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‘Life-Shared People,’ a Himalayan expedition team from Korea, holds flags commemorating their ascent of the 6,189-meter-high Island Peak in the Nepalese Himalayas on Dec. 22. |
By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
A group of Korean organ donors and recipients successfully reached the 6,189-meter-high Island Peak in the Nepalese Himalayas on Dec.22. The Himalayan Expedition Team, called 'Life-Shared Group,' is the first of its kind in the world to climb one of the most popular trekking peaks of the Himalayas.
Organized by Seoul National University Hospital and sponsored by Novartis Korea, the spirited adventure was aimed at eradicating the prevalent social bias against organ donations and transplants and enhancing public awareness of the issue. According to statistics released by the Korean Network for Organ Sharing, there are as many as 17,828 patients in need of new organs, yet Koreans have a tendency to be reluctant about organ donation.
A total of 10 organ recipients and donors participated in the project, with three of them finally making it to the peak. They are Yang Ji-mo (54, liver recipient), Min Kyung-bae (50, liver recipient) and Kim Gwang-sig (39, liver donor). The team made a safe return to Seoul on Dec. 30.
``This is a brilliant feat, resulting from the collaboration of all concerned parties, such as organ donors, recipients and medical professionals,’’ said Dr. Suh Kyung-suk of the Organ Transplantation Center at Seoul National University Hospital. Suh was also the director of the project.
The team trained for 12 weeks beginning September 2008, walking along the ridges of Mt. Bukhan, Mt. Dobong, and Mt. Seorak, and departed for the Himalayas on Dec. 11. Some members suffered from altitude sickness upon making it 3,500m above sea level, but their sense of mission helped them remain intensely focused.
The medical findings from the expedition are also noteworthy, as the health conditions of the climbers were closely monitored by research staff from the Seoul National University Hospital who came along for the climb.
Their entire journey was featured on a nationwide TV documentary Jan. 16., demonstrating that both organ donors and recipients had no problems in leading healthy lives after organ sharing. “We hope that our successful expedition will serve as an opportunity in setting a positive atmosphere for promoting organ donation,” said Yang, one of the climbers to reach the peak.
jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
